Australia's public broadcaster said on Tuesday that it will not broadcast or report live from the upcoming cricket Test series in India after deciding not to pay inflated rights fees. The ABC said it could not afford the broadcast rights fees demanded by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), understood to be much higher for the four-Test series beginning February 22 than previous Australian tours.
It had still intended to send veteran radio commentator Jim Maxwell, but the BCCI refused him accreditation.

"It is really disappointing," an ABC spokeswoman told AFP. It will result in it being covered through the news just like a news item but there won't be any feeds, certainly not ball-by-ball coverage."

"We are leaning on Cricket Australia to help out because this means that there is no free-to-air broadcast of what's happening over there," the spokeswoman said.

Maxwell said the BCCI instead offered him a place in a VIP box for the entire series. However, he said this invitation came "with the proviso that if I wish to report on proceedings, because I am not a rights holder, I'll have to leave the ground".

"So, obviously that is unacceptable to the ABC and we've decided not to go," he told the broadcaster.
"Essentially it seems as though the fact that we didn't take up the rights, they feel as though as a radio reporter I don't have a position there. I am not able to report live from the ground."

This BP XI is so much better in terms of selections than what they picked for ROI in the Irani trophy.

Yeah, except for Stuarty Binny you could make a case for all other selections being warranted.

India A side that faces Australia next has some more dodgy selections though.

parthiv patel ‏@parthiv9

Had a good day today behind the stumps on a low turning wicket...parvez rasool was out standing...

Originally Posted by Daemon

Rassol with 7-45, wag. Was one of the very very few offies that did well in the recent season, albeit in the lower tier.

He flights the ball from what i have heard and gives good rev's. Was a mediocre bowler but this season Bishen Singh Bedi worked with him, and he has improved considerably. Impressed Dhoni in the nets too, bowling against him before the Delhi ODI recently.

Can bat very well too actually. Finally, Bishen Singh Bedi doing some good for Indian cricket after his retirement except for blabbering about everything uselessly.

"He's [Michael Clarke] on Twitter saying sorry for not walking? Mate if he did that in our side there'd be hell to play. AB would chuck his Twitter box off the balcony or whatever it is. Sorry for not walking? Jesus Christ man."

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it into a fruit salad